NVP Couselor
Date: 2005-05-31

Question:
My Girlfriend and I are pregnant but she having really bad morning sickness. This has been going on for a week now since we found out over a week ago that were pregnant. This morning sickness is all day not just morning. She also having nausea and throwing up 6 times a day or more. She eats sometimes crackers and soup with popciles afterwards. I should also mention that she trying to quit smoking after 15 years for the baby sake. She had 4 smokes today which is good. I guess I should mention that she does do pot. She has quit for 4 days now on this subject but she wants to smoke a joint to calm her nausea down. But she knows that if she does that then there could be a chance that harm could come to the baby. We bought some folic acids and she taking that everyday. Please give me advice on what she can do... I should also say that she stuborn...

Answer:
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy affects 50% to 80% of all pregnant women. It occurs mostly in the first trimester to varying degress, including constant nausea and vomiting. Vomiting 6 times per day or more may require treatment to avoid dehydration. In Canada, the safe medication is Diclectin which consists of 10 mg of Vitamin B6 and 10 mg of doxylamine succinate in a delayed release pill (i.e., approximately 4 hours of absorption, then approximately 8 hours of release). Women tak 2 pills at bedtime, 1 early morning, and 1 early afternoon to control NVP symptoms.

Please call the Motherisk Alcohol and Substance Use Helpline for information about smoking and the use of marijuana in pregnancy: 1-877-327-4636.